Yep. I can tell we're in another recession

[Crazy Dave]

When all the online help wanted ads for all the lowlife employers get ruder, more demanding and want to pay less, I know we're in trouble again.

[frazzled]

1. Except (breaking news) the economy grew 2.5% this past quarter

U.S. Economy Grew 2.5 Percent Over The Summer
The AP reports that the U.S. economy gres 2.5 percent over the summer, helped by stronger consumer and business spending.

So we are not in another recession. Sorry your negativity party has to be interrupted.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Sounds like the 1% bought more yachts nt

[Crazy Dave]

4. Sorry to spoil your optimism but...

Lay-offs and foreclosures are still on the rise. Spin that come Nov. 2012.

[enlightenment]

8. That improvement has to reach farther than a statistic on a piece of

paper. Even the reports about it admit that it doesn't translate to much measurable improvement in employment.

People can't eat statistics or use them to pay their rent - and unless they can measure it by things that make a difference to them, that 'improvement' isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

[frazzled]

11. Told ya so

As you well know, employment is dependent on the economy growing, and lags behind--always. The point is, the OP claimed we are in a double-dip recession. That is simply untrue as based on the standard economic definition of recession.

No one doubts that unemployment is still the major issue--and that Republican chicanery and obstinacy is contributing to the stubborn refusal for the numbers to move. The fact is (and look it up): while the private sector actually has been steadily adding jobs (not enough, but adding), it is the PUBLIC sector--states and cities slashing jobs for government workers, teachers, etc.--because of state and city deficits that is the reason that the unemployment numbers are stuck around 9 per cent. Again, Republicans just voted to deny aid to the states for rehiring workers.

[enlightenment]

13. I think you're reading into what the OP wrote.

I didn't see 'double dip recession' anywhere in there. Even if they did say that, the two of you are talking apples and oranges - you're relying on 'standard economic definitions' (textbook stuff) and the OP is relying on what they are seeing (apocryphal, yes, but still very different than what the 'book' says).

Ne'er the twain will meet, as they say . . .

Your comments about why we still have major problems is beside the point. I don't disagree, but the conversation isn't about why we have issues - it's about how serious those issues are and how rapidly they are improving (or not).

[frazzled]

14. Well, it says right there "another recession"

That would mean a double-dip recession. (I take the word "another" at face value). So that is what I addressed. I think we should take some encouragement from the news that the economy did not stay stagnant or lose ground this past quarter but grew by 2.5%. It's not enough, for sure, and there are three decades worth of wage stagnation to make up for. I never expected the president to be able to turn that baby around in two and a half years. I'm just pleased that we are continuing to claw ourselves out of the giant hole, even if it is inch by inch.

And yes, we do have to keep our eyes on what the big, overall economic numbers say; and keep them separate from the anecdotal stories of individuals, important as those are to the lives of those people (and yes, to me). To say we're in a recession ("another" or not) only makes things worse for all those people out there looking for jobs.

[Crazy Dave]

19. Again, you rely on numbers and BS statistics

People with their eyes and ears open know better. And explain exactly how saying we're in recession affects and makes things worse for those out of work. More business shutting down and no jobs is what makes things worse in the real world.

[TlalocW]

2. Example(s)?

TlalocW

[Crazy Dave]

5. You can probably find some on your local craigslist

"Must have three plus years of recent work experience", "Send resume with cover letter", "Don't waste our time", "Credit, drug and background check" required for lawn maintenance, office cleaning and dishwashing jobs. One place that advertises daily for office cleaners has dropped their hourly rates from $8 back down to $7.25 an hour. Oh yeah, and the "Please include a two page essay explaining why we should hire you" ads.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Don't forget the freelance writing jobs

that pay a few bucks per 500-word article. Or want to hire someone to write their term paper for $10.

[Crazy Dave]

7. Sign holders and spinners seem to be the fastest growing jobs here

And people who want you to drive them 40 min. to work in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon for $10 a day. I have one friend who worked as a forklift driver 17 years and got laid off. He saw an ad for a warehouse position that required using a forklift and applied for it. They wanted to know why he didn't include a resume and why he never attended college. Last year I took a part-time, $10 hr. cleaning position in the evenings and it was like applying for a civil service job.

[Pab Sungenis]

12. Actually, if you look at most of the writing "jobs" on Craigslist

and scroll down to the bottom, they almost all say "Compensation: no pay."

[Kat45]

16. Yup. I was going to mention that as well.

I can't make a living with my writing skills because writing skills are not valued. Too many places expect writers to work for free, and too many people will do just that. Aren't most of the people who write for the Huffington Post unpaid?

[Pab Sungenis]

9. I had one friend who saw a "busboys wanted" sign at a restaurant in Philly.

When he went in to apply, they wanted his resume.

A resume? For the ultimate in entry level jobs?

[Crazy Dave]

10. Sounds like my forklift driver friend

17 years driving a forklift until laid off recently. He applied for another forklift driver job and they wanted to know where his resume was and why no college degree.

[Art_from_Ark]

17. In other words, they didn't want to hire your friend for some reason

With 17 years of experience, they probably thought your friend would want "too much money" (a.k.a. a living wage). The college degree stuff is just bullshit made up on the spot. I ran into the same kind of shit all the time in the '80s. If they don't want you, they will make up just about any kind of sorry-ass excuse not to hire you, and there's not a thing you can do about it.

Incidentally, back in the '80s I applied for a job for which I had some vo-tech training, but was not hired because I "had a little college", so I "would probably want to go back and get that degree."

[Crazy Dave]

18. I think it's the young and inexperienced HR managers myself

I was actually hired to do part-time office cleaning by a young woman who acted like she was offering me a civil service job. They had to do all that resume, cover letter, 3 years of references, etc. so therefore they think everyone, including the janitors should. My dad back in the early 80s retired from the military and couldn't land a job anywhere in his career field as back then employers did not consider military training the equivalent of a college degree.

And there's also these low-rent employers who are feeling real important about themselves right now. Three years ago they were hiring illegal workers and/or felons because no one else would apply but now they have hundreds of individuals with college degrees wanting (begging) to work for a crummy $8 an hour job.

[Art_from_Ark]

20. It could be the youth of the managers

But I think if they were really looking for a forklift operator, they wouldn't care about college education. In my case, it was actually two strikes against me for finding work like that. I found out that if an employer doesn't want you for any reason, s/he can make up practically any bullshit reason in the world to turn you down. Believe me, I've heard all sorts of excuses. My "favorite" one was

"You don't have this state's driver's license".
"I just got one"
"You haven't had it long enough".

:argh:

[grasswire]

15. yep -- am 18-year-old in my family sought a job washing dishes in ...

...a bagel shop. They, too, wanted a resume.

Insanity.

[OllieLotte]

21. If you are correct, I'd play the game and put together a resume.

Fortunately, I have a job and with God's will, won't be needing to find one. If what everyone on this thread says is true and entry level jobs are asking for resume's, I would take advantage of the writing capabilities of all these people that are looking for extra money and have one put together. I agree that asking someone that is applying for a position to bus tables sure doesn't need a resume.